Maine mini-quake barely noticed

PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S. Geological Service says a 2.3 magnitude earthquake occurred in the southern Maine town of Hollis, but it was news to police agencies.

The quake hit at about 5 a.m. Sunday. But Sanford Regional Communications Center and Cumberland County Sheriff’s dispatchers said they hadn’t received any calls about it.

The earthquake was reported by the Weston Observatory of Boston College’s Department of Geology and Geophysics. It’s documented on the U.S. Geological Service website, www.usgs.gov.

Butch Roberts of the National Weather Service in Gray says Maine has a lot of small earthquakes each year. He says that’s good because it lessens chances of a big quake. A quake of magnitude 2.5 to 3 is the smallest generally felt by people.